The CHRONICLES OF AZTLAN
2024 san antonio, tx
As the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural & Public Art Coordinator in 2024, in order to celebrate the organization's 30th anniversary, a community mural was coordinated to visually elaborate on the legacy of SACA and the west side of San Antonio. Lead Muralist Doroteo Garza and Assistant Muralists Marco Vargas and Benjamin Soriano conducted community meetings at Guadalupe Lumber, the site of the mural, to introduce the project to community members and collect input for the design. After creating a design that incorporates spiritual symbols, indigenous stories, local icons, and more, the crew hosted Community Paint Days and completed the mural with a dedication ceremony including a blessing from a member of the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation.LAS ESPERANZAS Y JUSTICIAS DE LA AVE NEGRA
2024 san antonio, tx
As the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural & Public Art Coordinator in 2024, we partnered with the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute and Dress for Success San Antonio to create a community mural about Jovita Idar. Lead Muralist Rosalinda Alvarez Turuda hosted community meetings with community members to discuss the life of Jovita Idar and collect input about what members would like to see in the mural. Turuda then moved forward with painting the mural, hosting Community Paint Days and her brother Adrian Alvarez assisting. At the end of the mural project, we hosted a dedication ceremony where the mural was blessed by the pastor from a church of Jovita's faith, her family members spoke, an all-female mariachi performed, and community members gathered to celebrate. RAH RAH ROOM
2024 san antonio, tx
Mural and art consultation for Rah Rah Room; Ashleigh Valentine Garza designed and executed the exterior mural and Tink Castillo created a collage mural in the bathroom. STRENGTH FOSTERS CHANGE
2023 san antonio, tx
As the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural & Public Art Coordinator in 2023, we partnered with the San Antonio Office of Sustainability to bring a new community mural to the westside of San Antonio. With Lead Muralist Diana Rocha and Assistant Muralist Raisa Meléndez Tardi, community meetings were hosted to collect input from community members of all ages about what they would like to see in the mural design regarding the theme of sustainability. Rocha created a design featuring local perspectives of sustainability: recycling, public transportation, and gardening. Community Paint Days were hosted where community members of all ages got the change to create the mural with the artists. At the conclusion of the mural, a dedication ceremony was conducted where the mayor of San Antonio spoke and the artwork was celebrated. Later, a blessing ceremony was hosted for the mural and those involved with creating the mural were blessed by a local member of the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation.the protected path to new beginnings
2023 san antonio, tx
As the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural & Public Art Coordinator in 2023, in efforts to revive teen participation in the mural program, the 62nd SACA mural was coordinated to be led by San Antonio teens. After an open call for teen muralists on the west and south sides of the city, three muralists were selected to lead this mural: Kye Blackburn, Samantha Monzon, and Jocelyn Quientero. The teens hosted community meetings to discuss the relationship between the two sides of the city with community members. Using that input, the teens designed this mural featuring an owl stretched along both walls, protecting all that's beneath it; below the owl are the hands of our ancestors holding the path we all walk, symbolic of Zarzamora St. and Military Dr., known as an intersection between the two sides of town. The path features community members, some being real people in our communities. The teens hosted Community Paint Days for community members of all ages to paint. We concluded this project with a dedication ceremony where the mural and muralists were blessed, the area's city councilperson Teri Castillo spoke, and the community's work was celebrated. the spirit within
2023 san antonio, tx
As the San Anto Cultural Arts Community Mural & Public Art Coordinator in 2021, I assumed this community mural project when starting the position. The community engagement portion of the project had already been conducted and we were in the phase of proposing the final design. The Lead Muralists included Ashleigh Valentine Garza and Hailey Marmolejo with Assistant Muralists Doroteo Garza, Rosalinda Alvarez Turuda, and Malachy McKinney. Upon approval of the final design, we prepared for a polytab install and were able to host multiple Community Paint Days at the organization's center. Due to construction, installation at its site, Market Square in downtown San Antonio, we constructed a wooden crate to store the polytab tiles until installation in 2023. In 2023, Bryan Mancera, Joe De La Cruz, Domeinic Jimenez, and Francisco Garcia supported the installation of the mural onto the facade of the historic Market Square building.mccollum high school dream center
2022 san antonio, tx
During the Spring of 2022, I was invited to work with a group of bilingual high school students at Dillard McCollum High School on the south side of San Antonio. The students had recently gained permission to transform a storage closet into a DREAM Center for students who may be bilingual or from other parts of the world. They wanted to create a mural in the space that represented who they are and created a safe space for future students.
We followed a process similar to community-based processes used for other murals where we collected the input of all the students in the group and began to synthesize the ideas into what they wanted on the wall. This involved group discussions, finding reference artists, and doing research on symbols and colors they wanted to use to tell their story.
I facilitated the brainstorming process and the creation of the sketch and mock up of the design the students wanted to paint. The students learned traditional methods of mural creation including gridding their wall and drawing the mural out. Over the duration of about 2 weeks, the students came to paint the mural between classes and during specific periods. Students who claimed to not be artistic as well as those with strong interests in art all participated in the project.
In the end, a mural was created featuring a globe in the middle of the composition. The students wanted to create something with a message about how they all come from different places, but create one community; the globe in the image features the outlines of South America and North America with the portraits of current and past students within the shapes.
Surrounding the globe is a rainbow ring being held by multiple hands of different races. The students wanted to express their support for the LGBTQ+ members of their group and community as well as a sense of support for peace from all races. Monarch butterflies, a popular symbol for migration, are seen flying throughout the composition, each painted uniquely by the students.
Around the globe is also a saying the students created in Spanglish, “Everything begins con un sueño - Humanity has ningunas fronteras - Juntos we are family.” This translates in English to “Everything begins with a dream - Humanity has no borders - Together we are family.”real impact performance gym
2021 san antonio, tx
Mural consultation and coordination done for Real Impact Performance Gym with Lead Muralist Jon Balderas.yanaguana is everything
2018 san antonio, tx
This vibrant and culturally significant mural was brought to life through a collaboration between El Paso artist Zeke Peña, myself, and a talented group of 10 San Antonio high school students. Together, we embarked on a journey of exploration and research, delving into the rich history and significance of the San Antonio river. As we delved into our findings, our group of enthusiastic and passionate young muralists became inspired by the White Shaman rock art mural discovered in South Texas. The intricate details of this ancient masterpiece reveal fascinating stories that connect the river to the mystical world of the stars, while also serving as a calendar for the White Shaman. With a deep reverence for our city's heritage and indigenous population, our mural was born - a tribute that pays homage to the symbiotic relationship between San Antonio, South Texas, our sacred river, and the boundless skies above. And to make this mural more interactive, we enlisted the assistance of Augment El Paso to infuse an element of Augmented Reality, unveiling the enthralling narratives behind every stroke and color.